Complete Sonardyne suite for Dive Technologies’ large displacement AUV
Quincy, Massachusetts, based underwater robotics innovator Dive Technologies has chosen a complete suite of Sonardyne technologies for navigation, tracking and control of its large displacement DIVE-LD autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV). To support long-distance and long-duration navigation, while minimizing complexity and payload space consumption, the vehicle is fitted with Sonardyne’s industry leading hybrid navigator SPRINT-Nav.
For underwater positioning and acoustic communications, the DIVE-LD is fitted with Sonardyne’s AvTrak 6 – a combined transponder, modem and emergency relocator beacon all in one. To cover all its concepts of operations (CONOPS), including tracking and communication during development and testing, Dive Technologies has also acquired Sonardyne’s most capable Ultra-Short BaseLine (USBL) system, Ranger 2, with its latest, compact Gyro USBL.
The DIVE-LD AUV is being developed to meet a wide range of long-endurance mission requirements, across the commercial, research and defense sectors. The vehicle, measuring 48 inches in diameter and 19 feet long and designed for operations down to 6,000 m water depth, is currently in production in the US with sea testing ongoing in New Bedford.
For more information visit: www.sonardyne.com
Teledyne Marine Introduces New Ultra Compact Acoustic Modem
Teledyne Marine is pleased to announce the launch of its new Ultra Compact Modem (UCM). Sized at just 60 x 50 mm, and weighing in at just 55 grams, the OEM version of the UCM is the smallest acoustic modem ever designed by Teledyne Benthos.
The UCM is based on Teledyne Benthos’ proven signal processing technology to address the need for reliable wireless underwater acoustic communications onboard the growing number of autonomous micro vehicles and other subsea instruments. As the size of these micro vehicles continues to decrease, Teledyne Marine has responded with lightweight, low power, proven sensors and systems to expand the usefulness of these platforms, increasing the number of tasks they can perform.
The self-contained UCM is rated to 700m; OEM versions are available with multiple remote transducer options for greater depths. The UCM boasts increased transmit power resulting in increased range and improved data reliability, as well as a decreased power draw, both of which are critical for autonomous vehicles and extended subsea instrumentation deployments.
As with Teledyne’s ATM series modems, the Ultra Compact Modem is compatible with the feature-rich UTS-9400 Universal Top Side (UTS), and the soon to be launched CE marked UTS-9500 and is fully compatible with the NATO Janus underwater communication interoperability standard.
For more information, visit: www.teledynemarine.com/UCM
Benthic Solutions launches innovative Cuttings Pile Sampling Tool
The development of bespoke sampling equipment continues with the recent upgrade of the 1.2m ROV operated frame corer, initially developed in 2012, to a larger 2.2m device. Additional improvements include internal pistons, a robust chain drive and the inclusion of two independent core samplers within a single frame allowing multiple site visits or replicate samples from a single dive. The acquisition of duplicate samples allows for deeper penetration and recovery, up to 2.2m, as the cores themselves act as suction anchors. The device can be deployed independently from the surface or mounted on the ROV, it is therefore an ideal tool for environmental and geotechnical operations in precise locations amongst infrastructure, on cuttings piles, and for geochemical sampling around active seeps and vents.
Recent pictures from the successful deployment of the system in the North Sea to obtain deeper core samples of 2m from an extensive cuttings pile beneath infrastructure that is soon to be decommissioned.
For more information visit: www.benthicsolutions.com
Mooring Systems launches GHOST (Global Hidden Ocean Satellite Telemetry)
Mooring Systems, Inc. of Cataumet, Massachusetts announces the completion of a new game changing product for the oceanographic industry following many years of development and sea trials. GHOST, which stands for Global Hidden Ocean Satellite Telemetry, is a new covert data delivery system for sub-surface moorings. This unique product provides the ability to capture data from subsea instruments and deliver the data to a host computer from any ocean at any depth and virtually without ever being visible.
GHOST attaches to the top of a sub-surface mooring’s upper most buoy and travels up and down through the water column. This self-powered automated device transports a satellite antenna to the ocean surface multiple times throughout its pre-defined mission. GHOST consists of two primary components, a motorized vessel referred to as TRANSPORTER, and a tethered TRANSMITTER BUOY. Only the transmitter buoy will breach the ocean surface spending less than 5 minutes to transmit collected instrument data files. TRANSPORTER will remain just below the sea surface during the transmission then retract to a safe and hidden park depth.
GHOST is an adaptable tool for existing moored instrument data collection applications and new applications that have historically failed or never perceived possible.
GHOST is a significant breakthrough for the collection and transmission of ADCP data prior to mooring recovery. This benefit provides both early project reporting and assurance that valuable data is not entirely lost if an instrument fails prematurely or the mooring recovery operation is not successful.
GHOST solves surface buoy vandalism problems experienced with Tsunami detection systems, provides a new method for Government organizations to conduct marine security missions, and for conservation applications to identify and alert the presence of marine mammals.
This new TAUV (tethered AUV) product entry marks Mooring Systems as a leader in mooring automation. “Our combined expertise in underwater mooring and buoy system engineering, inductively coupling instruments for data capture, satellite telemetry, and system automation has led our design team to the development of this breakthrough commercially available product that significantly advances oceanographic mooring technology.” This product is patent pending.
For more information visit: www.mooringsystems.com
Port of Blyth opt for PicoTech Multibeam Sonar with BeamworX
Geodesea Ltd is proud to announce the supply & installation of a Pico MB-130Surf (Pico MB-130 with integrated Applanix POSMV SurfMaster) to Port of Blyth.
The PicoMB-130 facilitates high resolution surveys on man-portable USVs and small survey vessels. PicoMB-130’s small size, low weight and class leading power consumption allow rapid mobilisation, simple launch and recovery and long endurance. PicoMB-130-Surf comes with an industry leading inertial navigation system fully integrated within its deck unit, speeding up and simplifying mobilisation and reducing costs.
BeamworX software (NavAQ/AutoPatch/AutoClean) is bundled into a single suite; each program can work completely stand-alone due to the flexible imports and exports. But together they form a powerful toolkit for for acquiring, calibrating and (re)processing Multibeam Echosounder Data. The Port of Blyth is the latest to join the growing list of major UK ports using BeamworX software.
Geodesea Ltd have provided full system delivery, including installation, dimcon survey, calibration and basic hydrographic survey training with documented operational procedures for Port of Blyth engineers.
Edwin Dick, Port of Blyth Harbour Master, said: “We are delighted with delivery and installation of the new survey equipment which will provide the Port with much needed flexibility in undertaking surveys. The tools now available to us will enable the Port to better plan and conduct our dredge campaigns with greater efficiency.”
Regarded as one of the UK’s leading offshore energy support bases, Port of Blyth is home to some of the world’s largest offshore and renewable energy firms.
For more information visit: www.geodesea.com
Ashtead Technology appoints experienced CFO and expands management team
Ashtead Technology has appointed a chief financial officer (CFO) and five managers for newly created roles across its international team.
The appointments underline the integrated subsea technology and services company’s strategic growth plans to cement its leading position in the global offshore energy market and build on its recent success in new and emerging markets, including in offshore wind and decommissioning.
Ingrid Stewart assumed the new CFO position this week, bringing 23 years of corporate finance experience to the Aberdeenshire headquartered business which employs 170 people around the world.
Ms Stewart spent eight years with EnerMech Group as corporate development director where she managed the completion and integration of multiple acquisitions for the firm, as well as developing and executing long-term strategies. Prior to this, she was a member of the senior UK management team at Simmons & Company International, becoming the investment bank’s first ever female corporate finance director in 2009.
A specialist in subsea construction, IMR and decommissioning services, Ashtead Technology has acquired five businesses since 2017 and, as a result, boasts one of the largest equipment fleets in the industry and a depth of associated services capability.
In her new role, Ms Stewart will work with the senior team to position the company for further growth and further leverage existing capability. She said: “After watching the business successfully grow through acquisition over the past few years and increase its foothold in the offshore renewables and decommissioning sectors, I am thrilled to be joining the talented team at Ashtead Technology. The company has significant growth potential and I’m looking forward to supporting its future aspirations.”
The new Aberdeenshire based managerial hires across Ashtead Technology include Lili Hughes, as group QHSE manager, Stephen Booth as decommissioning BD manager and asset integrity project manager Michael Gibson. In addition, Mark Vela has joined as US operations manager in Houston, and Dan Davies has taken up his new role as NDT market manager within the company’s inspection solutions team in Bedfordshire, England.
Ashtead Technology CEO Allan Pirie said: “Ingrid’s substantial corporate finance and energy industry experience will make a significant contribution to our growth ambition as we further integrate and invest in our global operations to support the increase in business in offshore wind, decommissioning, and oil and gas.
“Bolstering our management team in the UK and the US will ensure we are well equipped to support our clients as we navigate the current challenges and capitalise on the opportunities presented by the energy transition and the blue economy.”
United States Coast Guard - Contract Award
MetOcean Telematics (MetOcean), is pleased to announce that it has been awarded a five-year blanket purchase agreement (BPA) to supply the United States Coast Guard (USCG) with its world-renowned search and rescue buoy, the Iridium Self Locating Datum Marker Buoy, also known as the iSLDMB.
MetOcean Telematics has supported and supplied Coast Guards (CG) around the globe with a cost-effective and reliable search and rescue (SAR) buoy for over two decades. The United States Coast Guard a core-user of the iSLDMB, have experienced first-hand the numerous operational advantages of this SAR buoy. During an active SAR event, the MetOcean iSLDMB allows Coast Guards to quickly travel to the event location via aircraft and then deploy the buoys by air in the region of interest. This ability significantly reduces overall search time and as a result it assists in saving lives at sea. The iSLDMB also aids in reducing overall SAR operational costs and adds additional safety and protection for Coast Guard personnel. By deploying several buoys in a suspected event location, it reduces the number of Coast Guard SAR vessels, aircraft, and personnel required to travel to the event location. The iSLDMB simply does the work. Each buoy provides vital real-time data at the top 1 meter of the ocean surface. The first 1 meter of the ocean is a critical measurement parameter when accurately detecting a person or asset lost at sea.
The iSLDMB is a true “smart-buoy”. Each buoy is equipped with an Iridium satellite transceiver, GPS, lightflasher, air, and sea surface temperature sensor. The suite of sensors enables the buoy to provide critical real-time lifesaving data through the Iridium satellite network. The Iridium transceiver also allows SAR operators to communicate via satellite with the buoys during an active SAR event. Bi-directional over-theair commands can be sent by operators through MetOcean’s secure LiNC data management system. This is a critical ability, if the buoy enters a region of particular interest or if a SAR event is prolonged and there is a need to conserve battery life to prolong buoy operating life.
“We are pleased to be in a position to support the search and rescue efforts of the United States Coast Guard. This partnership has spanned several decades, and it is a true testament of the reliability and steadfastness of the MetOcean iSLDMB. We look forward to supporting the USCG and other Coast Guards with their SAR buoy operational requirements for many years to come”
Tony Chedrawy, CEO of MetOcean Telematics.
The MetOcean iSLDMB is not only utilized by Coast Guards; Navies, Oceanographic Institutes, Environmental Agencies and Oil and Gas companies around the globe have also incorporated the MetOcean iSLDMB into their safety and logistical operations. The MetOcean iSLDMB is truly the most reliable, cost effect, buoy when lives are on the line!
MetOcean Telematics corporate headquarters, including the research and development and production facilities, are in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada. The company develops and manufactures state-of-theart data acquisition and end-to-end telematics solutions, with a focus on niche MetOcean solutions and custom Defence and Security products. As a prominent global Iridium Satellite Value-Added Reseller focused on hardware solutions, data services, and support, MetOcean Telematics is a leader in the satellite communications industry.
For additional information about MetOcean Telematics or any of its products, please contact [email protected].
First new seafloor map of the Decade collected on New Year's Expedition in Australian waters
Schmidt Ocean Institute’s research vessel Falkor has collected the first public seafloor data of the New Year, as part of a global effort to map the entire ocean floor by 2030. Australian scientists aboard the ship literally “Pinged in the New Year” as they sent sonar waves down to the ocean floor at midnight on Dec. 31 and throughout New Year’s Day, flying the first official flag of The Nippon Foundation-GEBCO Seabed 2030 Project. This also marks the start of the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development.
The expedition is a collaboration between Schmidt Ocean Institute, Seabed 2030, and Australian research institutions, and seeks to map significant seafloor features in the Tasman and Coral seas, offshore Eastern Australia. Seabed 2030 aims to facilitate the complete mapping of the global ocean floor by 2030, and will make this data freely available.
"We are still learning a lot about the complexity of the seafloor and are always discovering new features," said Co-Chief Scientist Dr. Helen Bostock, from the University of Queensland. "These features provide information about the evolution of the ocean, while features like volcanic seamounts commonly support vulnerable marine ecosystems and are nurseries for deep sea fish. It is important that we improve the map of the seafloor to help manage the oceans and their resources sustainably into the future."
Jamie McMichael-Phillips, Seabed 2030 Project Director said: “We now have just under a decade to reach our target of mapping the world’s entire ocean floor. Partnering with organisations such as Schmidt Ocean Institute will greatly help us in achieving this ambitious initiative, and this expedition is an excellent testament to how we intend to use this time we have left until 2030.”
The high-resolution seafloor mapping is a continuation of Schmidt Ocean Institute’s year-long 2020 campaign in Australia, which has resulted in new discoveries, including a 45-meter siphonophore, believed to be earth’s longest sea creature, and a new 500-meter tall detached coral reef. The current expedition to the Tasman and Coral seas will provide detailed maps that give scientists insight into the formation of the Australian continent.
Globally so far, 19 percent of the seafloor has been mapped according to the Seabed 2030 initiative. “Schmidt Ocean Institute is proud to partner with and fly the flag of Seabed 2030 to advance this critical work,” said Executive Director Dr. Jyotika Virmani, “Open sharing of information is one of our core values, and seafloor maps are fundamental to understanding our ocean. Better seafloor maps will improve tsunami prediction and will also give scientists insight into ocean circulation which controls the marine environment, including where nutrients and pollutants such as microplastics accumulate.”
“It’s an honor for us at Schmidt Ocean Institute to collect the first seafloor mapping data of 2021 as we greet this UN Decade of Ocean Science,” said Wendy Schmidt, Schmidt Ocean Institute co-founder. “WIth the tools we have today, we are able to ‘see’ the deepest, darkest ocean floor. As we explore more areas, there’s no telling what discoveries await, but we fully expect to identify new areas of high biodiversity that need protection, and to help develop comprehensive ocean floor maps that can guide the world in sustainably developing the Blue economy.”
The expedition will continue mapping the Tasman and Coral seas through to Jan. 26. The maps created will aid in the understanding and management of the Coral Sea Marine Park, which sits outside the Great Barrier Reef UNESCO World Heritage Site, and is one of world’s largest marine parks, spanning nearly 1 million square kilometers of the ocean. The new mapping data will be made publicly available through The Nippon Foundation-GEBCO Seabed 2030 and the AusSeabed Marine Data Portal.
To learn more, watch a video about the expedition to be released on New Years here and check out our end of the year highlight video. Photos are also available here.
ARAMCO chooses Subsea Tech’s ROV Tortuga
The Saudi national oil company ARAMCO chose the Tortuga ROV for underwater inspections and NDT operations on its offshore infrastructures.
Subsea Tech delivered a unique multi-sensor Tortuga unit fitted with Blueprint Subsea Oculus M750d imaging sonar and SeaTrac USBL positioning system, Cygnus Instruments Ltd FMD and thickness probes, Buckleys (UVRAL) Ltd CP probe, altimeter, 2-function grabber, cleaning brush, laser defect sizing tool and launch/recovery davit.
The high payload capacity of the Tortuga allowed simultaneous integration of most sensors and tooling, which is a real performance on such compact and lightweight ROV.
The dual screen console offers optimzed comfort to the operator by displaying simultaneously the ROV videos and the sensor data (sonar image, positioning information, etc.).
The light davit supplied to ARAMCO can be adapted on vessel freeboards, piers, platforms, etc. to ease launch/recovery operations.
For more information visit: www.subsea-tech.com
OSIL Demonstrate Integration Capabilities with Multi-Instrument Frames
Marine monitoring equipment manufacturer Ocean Scientific International Ltd demonstrate their precision engineering and instrument integration capabilities with their customised instrument frames. These frames can accommodate a large variety of instruments, from any number of different manufacturers.
OSIL’s special area of expertise lies in the integration all of these different sensors into a single simplified data reporting system that allows the end user to remotely access all readings (in real-time or near real-time) from a single software window/webpage, and in physically accommodating these sensors within the customers chosen platform, usually an oceanographic data buoy. OSIL’s in-house engineering facilities have ensured an established reputation for delivering fully integrated systems that are cost effective and reliable on time and within budget.
Unique instrument payload packages are designed and integrated quickly and efficiently using in-house programming for commercially available dataloggers. Data transmission options include long range WiFi, GSM/GPRS, VHF/UHF radio or Iridium satellite, and multiple systems are often networked together to relay information from a wider geographical area.
With over 30 years of experience OSIL are ideally positioned to offer a complete turnkey service, including options for deployment assistance and training. As global experts in the provision of tailored integrated systems for over 30 years OSIL produce scientific data collection systems for environmental monitoring in all marine situations, from shallow coastal waters to full ocean depth, but specialise in instrumented MetOcean data buoys, unique single or multi- parameter monitoring platforms, water column sampling equipment and seabed sampling equipment (complete with Launch and Recovery Systems (LARS)).
For further information or sales enquiries please contact: [email protected] or call +44 (0) 2392 488 240.
